lisaindenwolken's review

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funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.75

Loved listening to this ! Really made me want to go on my next own outdoor adventure. I did a bikepacking trip to through Portugal without any preparation (I literally bought a second hand bike the day before my train left ) . The first day was a failure. Some parts I actually did by train bc I needed to be back for a music festival and my plan was too ambitious / I wanted to spend 2day hiking the coast without any luggage / I was stubborn about the parts I wanted to see. One hour before my train left I really considered not going at all. I don’t regret anything. for me just like the author it was hard to let go of some fictional perfectionist checklist I had to fulfil, to call my trip „successfull“, when really I made it there and back, I did plenty of cycling, I never gave up, I had a good time -> successful enough for me. She conveys this very well in her book. The only thing I can’t relate with at all is sharing your journey online, but I guess she inspired a lot of people by doing that, which I never considered before. 

sharlie's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring medium-paced

3.5

actualresultsmayvary's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring medium-paced

4.5


Usually I find sports autobiographies almost unbearably boring but Coasting was a delight to read. Downing is so honest and real and human and she really makes it sound like something you could do, it almost makes me forget that I hate running! It was more the story of Downing's life over her ten month journey rather than a story about running.
The journey around the coast almost followed the structure of a journey from a fantasy story and was engaging in exactly the same way, I think that Downing is clearly a talented author with a brilliant voice and I would read anything else she might write, fiction or non-fiction.

sarahlh27's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

One to read when in a running slump or need a inspiration. Found the personal reflections very relatable.

jacquilogan's review against another edition

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Elise sounds like a lovely girl, full of plans and ready for adventures, but she also sounds very disorganised and a bit ‘oh it will all be fine and work itself out’. I just don’t know if I could have let my daughter set off on such an adventure so badly prepared. She hadn’t done much distance running (or so she said) nor had she done much running day in day out. She set off in November on what didn’t appear to be any real advice. She didn’t know how to read a map properly and to be honest I feel she is lucky to have got all the way round and home again without getting into any real harm. I think it is fantastic that she had a lovely adventure but it didn’t inspire me and I think she is very lucky to have met so many lovely people who helped her. I think this should be a book of don’t do it this way. This was a book chosen by one of our book club members after having read 'The Salt Path' by Raynor Winn sadly this book wasn’t in the same league as that book, but maybe it appeals to younger people more.

ehmvert's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

Really enjoyed this, it's definitely given me itchy feet!

denisever's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.25

gipfelglueck's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed this a lot although it is quite repetitive. Running, eating cake, worrying. I like the reflections about what adventure is and what it is for Elise, how you start one and most of all - how you enjoy it. Can't wait to go back to the UK.

abi_dutton's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

gemmabx's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring fast-paced

5.0